Presentation to Pittsburgh chapter of Meeting Planners International on the real benefits of social media in event and meeting planning for meeting planners, suppliers and venues.

1. The Real Benefits of Social Media
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1. The "politics" of each SM network and how to use
them to achieve your goals
2. Using social media to increase
meeting attendance
3. Using SM to add value
and excitement to meetings
4. How meeting planners and suppliers can work
together on better-run meetings with social media
5. A "to do" list that you can use the moment you
return to the office.

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There were meetings!
Also known as: The original social networks

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8

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1. It’s all about your “story” —
so what’s right for you and
your organization may be different
than for the person next to you
2. We’ll be moving fast,
hitting the highlights
3. You can return again
any time you want
4. First figure out where you’re going
and how to get started

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1. Facebook: Fans and friends only!
2. Twitter: It’s real time
3. YouTube: The #2 Internet
search engine — if a picture
is worth 1,000 words, then?
4. Flickr: Speaking of pictures . . .
5. LinkedIn: jobs and sales
6. Foursquare: the future (creepy?)
7. Your web site: home base for success

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1. Increasing attendance
is about marketing
2. Twitter is well suited
for event marketing
3. Create a unique Twitter ID for your event
4. Engage “champions” to help you populate it
before, during and after the event
5. Assign a small team to “prime the pump” and
monitor activity during the event

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1. Try show and tell: video
2. YouTube links can be
e-mailed, texted,
Tweeted, etc.
to increase views
3. Ask your convention/meeting host to be in a
personalized video before the event
4. Bonus for meeting planners: Link to or create video
from some of your speakers to entice attendees

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1. Use a blog as “official” home for event details
2. Use Twitter for instant updates (food, check-in, surprises)
3. Encourage “hashtags” #MPIPittsburgh

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1. Run a live Twitter
feed during an
event
2. Take speaker
questions on Twitter
3. Live stream the event
on uStream
4. Post presentations on Slideshare
5. Set up the room to encourage social media
interaction (large screens, etc.)

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1. Try Foursquare to connect people
2. “Location-based” apps are the future:
1. Connecting
2. Planning
3. Categorizing
4. Responding
5. Improving

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1. “It’s OUR event”
2. Plan social media
the same way you
plan other aspects
3. Share responsibility
for content,
monitoring and
response
4. The event can now
extend beyond the
walls — and
continue in the future

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– Audit (yourself, your organization,
competitors, "clients")
– Pick your social media tool
– Implement it for you, then your
organization
– Experiment!
– Check your handouts

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